Northern Ireland Minister for Sport Mervyn Poots last night became the first Democratic Unionist Party politician to attend a GAA match in an official capacity.
Mr Poots was a guest at the Dr McKenna Cup fixture between Down and Donegal at Newry. He was welcomed to Pairc Esler by GAA president Nickey Brennan, director general Liam Mulvihill and Ulster Council president Tom Daly.
The invitation to attend a Gaelic games fixture was extended when Mr Poots spoke at a GAA conference in in Belfast last October.